Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance

The Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ 3) in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance at SCQF level 8 allows learners to demonstrate competence in job-related skills in their particular area of work and expertise.

This qualification includes developing your technical and tactical skills, physical capability, psychological skills and nutritional strategy to achieve excellence in your sport. It also covers working in a healthy and safe way, communicating effectively with other people and developing your sporting career.

This qualification has been designed in partnership with the sector skills council SkillsActive to ensure relevance to the sector.

SVQs are based on National Occupational Standards. SQA works in partnership with other organisations to ensure that National Occupational Standards (NOS) are relevant to the current and future needs of Scottish industries.

This qualification is available through employers and training providers.

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Why deliver this qualification

Learners will gain an internationally recognised qualification which guarantees that they have the skills, knowledge and abilities required to carry out their role successfully. Employers will also benefit from their employees being proficient.

The SVQ is offered in the workplace. Since assessment is carried out in the workplace this minimises any time learners would need to be away from their work.

Learners can progress to a range of qualifications including HND Fitness, Health and Exercise or PDA Personal Training.

Who does this qualification suit

The SVQ is aimed at people who may be working as athletes, who have the realistic potential to achieve excellence in their sport, and who are seeking to perform at the highest level as their career goal.

The Units relate to the candidate’s sports or work, and the course provides well-structured opportunities to improve skills and career prospects.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre. Because this is a work-based qualification, candidates should be in positions which would enable them to provide the required evidence.

A mandatory entry requirement for this SVQ Modern Apprenticeship is that the individual meets a definition of a ‘talented player’, using the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Rugby Union defined criteria as a quality standard.

Approval

How to assess

For general information on how to assess this qualification, please refer to the document Guidance on how to assess SVQs. For detailed guidance on how to assess this particular SVQ, please refer to the Assessment Strategy.

Information about delivery, assessment, quality assurance and support material

Assessment strategy

Assessor's guidelines

Lapsing

Information about the qualification(s)

Qualification Structure

SVQ 3 Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance at SCQF Level 8

Group Award Code: G927 23

This qualification is now in its lapsing period and will finish on 31/05/19.

Centres should note:

- The qualification will be deleted from the relevant catalogue
- The qualification’s content and delivery tools will remain on SQA’s website until 31/05/19 at which point they will be removed and archived
- No new centres may be approved to offer the qualification
- No candidates can be entered for the qualification
- Centres should ensure candidates complete the qualification and results are submitted
to SQA before 31/7/2019.

Candidate Guidance and Portfolio

Case Study

Since leaving school in 2011, St Mirren midfielder, John McGinn has managed to keep his eye on the ball on the pitch while securing a place in the Scottish FA’s Modern Apprenticeship programme supporting young players

John earned five Highers at St Peter the Apostle high school in Clydebank before leaving school to pursue a professional football career.

Now in the second year of his Modern Apprenticeship, John is working towards his SVQ in Sports Excellence, while also studying an NQ in Sports Science.

Since making his first team debut earlier this season and establishing himself as a regular starter in the St Mirren midfield, playing a starring role in the Scottish Communities League Cup final, his season reached new heights when he captained the Scotland under-19 team in Serbia during an international friendly in April.

John puts much of his development on the pitch down to the skills he picked up on the Modern Apprenticeship programme: “Although I left school with a relatively strong set of Highers, I have definitely benefitted from studying the sports performance programme. I can analyse my own performances in training and games and I’m aware of good practice in health and fitness, all of which has aided my progression into the first team.”

“If I didn’t make it at St Mirren, I would still have wanted to go on to university, and the NQ I am studying just now at Reid Kerr College will help me to achieve this, if things don’t work out for me in the game.”